Local & Tribal Governments

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)

Grants to at-risk communities to create or update a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and carry out hazardous-fuels reduction projects near communities.

Who qualifies: State, local, and tribal governments; nonprofits; communities with a CWPP

Funding: Varies; typically $50,000–$500,000+ depending on project scope

Contact: USDA Forest Service  •  Ask your county or state forestry office for Wyoming CWDG coordinators

FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)

Competitive grants for infrastructure and resilience projects before a disaster happens. BRIC was suspended in 2025 and reinstated in 2026 with new funding.

Who qualifies: State, local, tribal, and territorial governments

What it funds: Mitigation projects that reduce future disaster impacts (flood control, wildfire resilience, drought preparedness)

Contact: FEMA and Wyoming Office of Homeland Security  •  (307) 777-5768  •  ashley.paulsrud@wyo.gov

Note: Confirm the current application cycle is open; funding availability changes annually.

WaterSMART Drought Response Program (Bureau of Reclamation)

Grants for water storage, source diversification, drought planning, and water-management tools in areas dependent on Colorado River or other federal water sources.

Who qualifies: States, tribes, irrigation and water districts, and local water authorities

Contact: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation  •  usbr.gov/watersmart

Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS)

WOHS coordinates emergency preparedness and response for Wyoming. They administer FEMA programs and can advise on federal funding opportunities.

Contact: WOHS, Resilience and Recovery Program  •  (307) 777-5768  •  ashley.paulsrud@wyo.gov

Available help: Emergency preparedness planning, grant coordination, FEMA program oversight

Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS) - Emergency Response

Contact WOHS immediately if your jurisdiction is impacted by an active disaster to report damage and activate emergency response protocols.

Contact: WOHS Emergency Preparedness Planner  •  (307) 777-4907  •  ashley.paulsrud@wyo.gov (may also reach WOHS main line: 307-777-5768)

What they do: Coordinate with FEMA, state agencies, and local responders; facilitate Incident Command System (ICS) coordination; begin damage assessment

Grants Management Office (GMO) - Resource Coordination

Contact the GMO if you have questions about available federal funding during an emergency or need guidance on which programs to access.

Contact: Grants Management Office  •  SBD-Grants@wyo.gov

FEMA Public Assistance (PA)

Reimburses eligible governments and nonprofits for debris removal, emergency response costs, and repairs to public infrastructure like roads, bridges, and utilities.

Funding: 75% federal, 25% local cost-share (may vary)

Categories: A–G; includes emergency protective measures, debris removal, roads and bridges, water systems, public buildings, and more

Who qualifies: Tribal, state, county, city, township, and special-district governments; public and private nonprofit organizations

Contact: WOHS  •  (307) 777-5768  •  ashley.paulsrud@wyo.gov

Timeline: Apply within deadlines set by FEMA (typically 30 days from declaration; ask WOHS)

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

Funds projects that reduce future disaster risk, available after a major disaster declaration.

What it funds: Structural and non-structural mitigation (e.g., fuels reduction, flood control, home elevation, emergency planning)

Funding: Typically 75% federal, 25% local

Contact: WOHS  •  (307) 777-5768

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program - Post Fire (HMGP-PF)

Specialized funding for fire-specific mitigation projects after a wildfire declaration.

Contact: WOHS  •  (307) 777-5768

USDA Forest Service - Community Wildfire Defense Grant & Wood Innovation Grant

Grants for hazardous-fuels reduction and wood-products market development after a fire event.

Who qualifies: State, local, and tribal governments; nonprofits; communities with a CWPP

Contact: USDA Forest Service (ask your regional Forest Service office)

Bureau of Land Management - Good Neighbor Authority & Fuels Management

BLM partners with state and local governments to treat federal land adjacent to private or local land, addressing hazardous fuels and restoration.

Who qualifies: Tribal, state, and county governments

Contact: Melissa Gribble, BLM Wyoming Grant Management Specialist  •  (307) 775-6293  •  mdgribble@blm.gov

USDA NRCS - Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) as Sponsor

Local and tribal governments can sponsor EWP projects to help private landowners repair watershed damage after disaster.

Contact: USDA NRCS Wyoming  •  (307) 233-6700  •  nrcs.usda.gov

EPA Brownfields Program

Funds cleanup and reuse of brownfield (contaminated) sites; post-disaster redevelopment can also strengthen community resilience.

Who qualifies: Local governments, quasi-governmental entities, redevelopment agencies, states, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits

Contact: EPA Region 8  •  https://www.epa.gov/brownfields

EPA Superfund Program

Cleans up highly contaminated sites and responds to environmental emergencies and disasters.

Who qualifies: Local, state, and tribal governments; certain nonprofits

Contact: EPA Region 8  •  https://www.epa.gov/superfund

Tribal governments are eligible for virtually every program listed above as sovereign entities. In addition:

• Tribal governments may apply to FEMA directly for Public Assistance and HMGP

• BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) administers additional tribal-specific programs; contact BIA for more

• Confirm tribal pathways and any additional support with WOHS and the program contact

Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS)  •  (307) 777-5768  •  ashley.paulsrud@wyo.gov  - Primary federal disaster coordination

Grants Management Office (GMO)  •  SBD-Grants@wyo.gov  - Grants and federal funding questions

Wyoming State Forestry Division  •  (307) 777-7586  •  wsfd@wyo.gov  - Forest recovery and CWPP support